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In The Other Side of Organized, Linda Samuels, CPO-CD® will encourage you to get organized enough to reduce the stress of life’s details and make time to embrace your passions. Already, thousands of clients and readers have found help and inspiration in her advice, personal reflections on change and connection, and vision of what can be accomplished when you find that sweet spot between chaos and perfection.

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What a special time of year. Having just returned from being away this weekend in St. Louis for an ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization) board meeting, I was amazed to see the shift in fall colors. In just a few short days, the landscape in New York had changed yet again. That’s the magic of this season. I also noticed how possibilities were visibly present in many ways. I discovered them on different types of pages.

Blank Pages

This past weekend, I began writing in a new journal, since I finished my last one several weeks ago. I’ve been consistently keeping journals for over 40 years. On the plane back from St. Louis, I made my first entry. I opened the book and saw many blank pages ahead. As I wrote, I recognized that these empty pages, while blank were filled with possibilities. The pages will eventually include successes, failures, joys and sadness, struggles, wins, seed ideas, and dreams realized, observations, experiences, feelings yet to be discovered, explored and imagined, history, love, family, friends, ah-has, quiet reflections, ponderings, complaints, cheers, lists, travels, and gratitude. Possibilities will one day ink the currently blank pages.

Full Pages

Shifting from blank pages to full ones, I just began reading Todd Henry’s new book, Die Empty. While the title is a bit morbid, the book is in fact filled with hope and possibilities. Henry says that living a meaningful life includes not just thinking about what’s possible, but taking action steps necessary to realize your dreams and make a significant contribution. It’s a possibility guide with concrete and creative ideas. He includes great thought-provoking questions including, “Did the work I did today really matter?”

Open Pages

Today began with an early morning walk along the Hudson River. While there were many things on my “to do” list, the day felt open and brimming with possibilities. As I walked, I breathed deeply, stopping to take in the waft of hot pink, citrus-scented flowers and slight saltiness of the sea air. I felt the bright, warm light and cool breeze accompany me as I moved. The river ebbed and flowed as I journeyed down the path stopping to photograph and just enjoy the view before me. Birds chirped, trains chugged, and water sloshed against the rocks. Before me was an open landscape of possibilities.

What will you discover on your possibility pages? Are they blank, full, open, or something else? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Reader Comments (9)

What a wonderful and thought provoking post, Linda. I love the idea of dying empty, or as another guru put it (I think Wayne Dyer) — don't die with your music still in you. Thank you for the lovely reminder.

Life is about blank pages, every day we fill one of them. No matter if we actually write down the day experiences or just imprint them in our memory. At the end of our lives the only thing that matters is have had a life with no regrets or pending things to do. Tear the "bad pages" off your journal and keep those with great feelings, or not so great in feeling but filled with learning. Having difficult moments in life is part of what we are, they define us. Even, I can say I'm an open book willing to be written on by those who matters to me. If I can breath, I can say life is good the rest is up to me.

Love how you shared your ideas via the blank, full and open pages. Oh, so clever! Having spent the weekend with you at the ICD Board meeting, I feel confident your journal will be filled with many successes related to your work on that Board. Hugs, Andrea

@Aby- Yes...am definitely finding Todd Henry's new book so inspiring. It sounds like Wayne Dyer shares a similar philosophy.

@Nacho- Interesting idea about tearing out the "bad pages," or the alternative, which I prefer, to use them as a growing experiences. As much as I enjoy writing in my journal, I love going back and reading old entries. Two things always surprise me: the themes that reoccur and the challenges that have been worked out. Lots of hope.

@Andrea- I'm glad you responded to the "pages" idea. Thank you for your wonderful words of positivity and encouragement. The ICD Board is a dynamic, passionate group, and I'm thrilled and honored for the time I'll have to work closely with you and everyone else.

Ahhh.. Linda what kindred soulful spirits we have become :) I feel every word on your pages because they create powerful images. I'm going to comment in a very "literal" sense. As a blogger myself, I appreciate the power of the pencil and how it can convey way more than an opinion or informative content. If simple "words" can exude an emotion and perhaps help a reader to "visualize, " a concept, how great is that! For me, staring at a blank page is both daunting and exciting. The possibilities are infinite. Initially, I generally have no idea what I'm going to write or where I will draw my inspiration. But then it comes. As if a lightbulb turns on, I am invigorated by the transition. My thoughts take me to unexpected places. Once I'm engaged, I can't write fast enough. Writing is a very cathartic process for me and so now I've learned to welcome the "empty" pages because I know that when I "fill "those spaces, there is always a gift of self-discovery on the other end.

@Helena- So glad to know that you enjoy the posts. I love writing and am happy to have a wonderful community here that generously shares their thoughts and insights. I'm thrilled that you're a regular contributor. Thank you.

@Nancy-Great to connect with you...my fellow blogger and organizer. I love your description of seeing the blank page as "daunting and exciting." The push and pull of possibilities. How fascinating that your process begins with uncertainty and then that switch goes on and you're ready to write. And you're so right about the "gift of self-discovery." Lovely thoughts. Thank you for sharing.

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About Linda Samuels

Linda Samuels, CPO-CD
® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer, coach, author & blogger who facilitates change in others' lives. A recent empty-nester, she lives with her husband in a small, colorful home with a purple front door.